Nominations are in for 'fashion Oscars' - but with most CFDA award hopefuls under 26, why have big names been ignored?

It is known as the 'fashion Oscars', and last night the nominations were announced for the 2011 Council of Fashion Designers of America award.

Rising talents including Alexander Wang, 26, Jason Wu, 28, and Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are among the hopefuls - but there is a startling lack of more well-established names.

'Either the people who run it think these young bucks are
more talented than the old masters, or they’re changing course.'

The nominations were announced last night at the studio of CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg.

Others
to be honoured at the ceremony on June 6 include Celine's British
designer Phoebe Philo, who will be given the International Award, while
the CFDA Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award will be given to
photographer Arthur Elgort.

Nominations for each award category are submitted by the CFDA Fashion
Awards Selection Committee, which is made up of around 300 members and
over 500 fashion retailers, journalists, and stylists.